Label-holding device for bottles



(No Model.)

T. SNYPP.

LABEL HOLDING DEVICE FOR BOTTLES, No. 337,713.

Patented Mar. 9, 1886.

! 'iiiil NVENTOR 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE SNYPP, OF NEWPORT, OHIO.

LABEL-HOLDING DEVICE FOR BOTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,713, dated March 9, 1886.

Application filedOctobel-lfi. 18M. Sc1-ialNo.l-15,68O. (N model.)

I To all whom it may concern.-

declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the 'art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a suitablelabel-holding device for bottles, boxes, packages, and the like; and it consists, substantially, in the parts as constructed, and in the particular combinations to be hereinafter distinctly described, and pointed out in the claims.

The invention is designed more particularly for use in drug-stores and such like places where poisonous and dangerous drugs are kept in stock, and was devised for the purpose of preventing the heretofore too frequent accidents resulting from the errors of clerks in mistaking bottles containing poisonous material or substances for others in the preparation or-compounding of prescriptions.

Referring to the annexed sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents a bottle having a labelholder thereon constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional View of the holder proper to represent the interior disposition of parts, and Fig. 3 a view in detail.

The device is so constructed as to hold as many labels as may be desired, a single one ata time being readily slipped out for the purpose of pasting it on the vial or box that is to contain the purchased drug or material. The labels themselves are to have the name of the drug or material printed on them, and they are placed in the holder or device, preferably with the gummed side outward, so that they can be withdrawn one at a timeby simply sliding the finger across, to which they are caused to adhere by the natural moisture thereof. The name of the drug or medicine that is contained in the bottle on which the holder is placed is to be printed or otherwise indicated on the device itself, so that it is simply necessary for the clerk to read the inscription on the device, proper care of course being observed in the first instance in having all to correspond.

Reference being had to the several parts by letter, A represents a bottle, and B the labelholder proper.

To provide means for attaching the devices to bottles already in hand, I furnish to each side thereofsmall rings or loops a, in one of which I secure one end of a metallic strap or ribbon, C, while in the opposite one the free end of the strap is adjustable, so as to enable the device to be fitted to bottles of varying circumferences. It will thus be seen that the device and bottles may be sold together, the device being attachable to bottles of the ordinary construction.

The construction of the holder Bis substantially as follows: 0 represents asmall metallic box or casing having a concave back, 0', conforming in shape to the contour-of the ordinary cylindric bottles, although for square bottles this back 0 may be flat. The front consists of a plate having aportibn cut or slotted out, as at d, by which the labels '5 are exposed to permit the finger to be placed thereon in slipping them out. IVithin the holder are arranged two plates or strips, 6 e, the former being preferably stationary, while the latter is movable. Between these plates are arranged coiled springs g g, and before the plate 6, between it and the outer front plate, the labels are placed. The tendency of the springs is to force the labels outward, and as fast as they are removed the plate e is forced outward.

Instead of coiled springs, I may use springs of any other formas, for instance, an elliptic spring; but for all general purposes I have found the construction herein shown to a11- swer all requirements. The back of the box is open and the top and bottom plates curved or otherwise shaped to fit the face of the vessel to which it is to be attached.

IVhen attached, the face of the vessel forms the rear wall of the box and furnishes a stop for the rear plate, e, of the spring-follower.

IVhen it is desired to place a stock of labels within the box,the box should be detached and the plates 6 e and the springs g g removed. The labels may then be placed within the box against the front plate, and after replacing the plates 6 e and the springs g the box will be ready for attachment. The strap is bent to form a serpentine-spring portion, j, (shown in Fig. 3,) at or near the center of the strap 0,

thus causing it to fit closely to the object which the strap encircles. In addition to this, the strap is adapted to fit various-sized bodies in the following manner, to wit: The strap is [0 made not only long enough to reach from one of the loops in the label-holder around the object to which the label-holder is to be secured and then just reach the loop in the opposite side of the label-holder, but it extendsbeyond I 5 said loop, and when it has been drawn through said loop far enough to make the strap as taut as is desired it may be bent at any desired point, and by passing it through the loop from the outside-the free end, or that portion of the strap between the end and the point where it is bent in the loop, is simply tucked under the strap 0 out of the way, as will be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 3.

By my invention the labels of a particular kind may all be kept together, and thus prevented from being scattered about with others indiscriminately.

Heretofore the custom has been to keep the labels in drawers provided with separate compartments or divisions by which they are divided; but in such practice the labels frequently warp or curl u'p-andspring from their own places over into some other of the adjacent compartments, frequently causing mishaps. By my invention these difiiculties are entirely 5 obviated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A label holderconsisting of the casing adapted to hold labels, and provided with 0 loops in, in combination with a strap adapted to besecured in said loops, and'bent near its center to form aserp'entine spring, substantially as set forth.

2. A label-holder consisting of a casing adapted to hold labels, and provided with loops a, in combination with a strap which is bent to'form a spring portion near the center of the same, and-adjustable independently of the spring portion to fit and encircle bodies of different circumferences, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEQDORE SNYBP.

Witnesses:

0. E. .DUEFY, M. P. CAL'LAN. 

